Sport practice net with sloped bottom shell

ABSTRACT

A sport net comprising a frame defining a raised ball portal, a bottom shell extending at a downward slope away from the lower edge of the ball portal, and a rear net closing off the back of the sport net, such that balls entering the sport net are directed by the rear net and/or bottom shell toward and into a ball collection aperture at the lowest point in the bottom shell&#39;s downward slope and the balls can fall through the ball collection aperture into a collection receptacle.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of priority to prior filedand co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/245,745, filedOct. 23, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to the field of sport practice nets,particularly a sport practice net with a sloped bottom that directsballs that enter the sport practice net toward and into a receptacle.

Background

It is common when practicing sports activities to throw or hit ballsinto a net. Such nets allow athletes to practice in small areas relativeto the space that would otherwise be required. For example, a baseballpitcher can practice his pitching motion in his home's garage orbackyard by throwing balls into a practice net just a few feet away,instead of needing a practice area that encompasses the full 60 feet 6inch distance between the rubber on a pitcher's mound and home plate.Additionally, the pitcher can use the net to practice alone or with atrainer, without needing a catcher to catch the balls he throws.Similarly, athletes can hit balls, such as baseballs, softballs, or golfballs, into sports nets to avoid having to retrieve those balls from faraway during practice.

However, many sport practice nets trap received balls at the bottom ofthe net or direct them to the ground. Because the balls are not directedto a central retrieval area or receptacle, retrieval of the balls can becumbersome and time-consuming.

What is needed is a sport practice net with a sloped bottom surface,such that balls entering the net are directed down the sloped bottomsurface to a collection receptacle. Such a net allows balls to beautomatically collected within the receptacle for convenient reuse orstorage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a front isometric view of an embodiment of a sport net.

FIG. 1B depicts a rear isometric view of an embodiment of a sport net.

FIG. 1C depicts a side view of an embodiment of a sport net.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a frame.

FIG. 3A depicts a front isometric view of an embodiment of a netassembly.

FIG. 3B depicts a side view of an embodiment of a net assembly.

FIG. 3C depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of a net assembly.

FIG. 4A depicts a top view of an embodiment of a bottom shell.

FIG. 4B depicts a side view of an embodiment of a bottom shell.

FIG. 5 depicts a non-limiting example of measurements and angles of oneembodiment of the net assembly in a state in which it is being pulled bytension members such that the bottom shell has a downward slope.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of another non-limiting example of anembodiment in which the bottom shell has a downward slope.

FIG. 7 depicts a full and close-up partial view of an exemplaryembodiment of a tension member.

FIG. 8A depicts angles that were experimentally measured on anembodiment of the sport net when various levels of tension were appliedto the back of the net assembly by the tension members.

FIG. 8B depicts the results of the measurements at the angles shown inFIG. 8A, as well as measurements of the rear net's droop away from astraight line at various points on the rear net.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of the rear net hung from a frame to have aparabolic shape in order to take experimental measurements.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of a sport net.

FIG. 11 depicts a rear view of the sport net depicted in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 depicts an elevation view of the sport net depicted in FIGS. 10and 11.

FIGS. 13A and 13B depict the net components of the sport net depicted inFIGS. 10-12.

FIGS. 14A and 14B depict an exploded view of the net components of thesport net depicted in FIGS. 10-13B.

FIG. 15 depicts the parabolic profile of the rear net of the sport netdepicted in FIGS. 10-14B.

FIG. 16 depicts a side view of the sport net depicted in FIGS. 10-15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A depicts a front isometric view of a sport net 100, FIG. 1Bdepicts a rear isometric view of the sport net 100, and FIG. 1C depictsa side view of the sport net 100. A sport net 100 can comprise a frame102, frame connectors 104, a bottom shell 106, a rear net 108, and aplurality of tension members 110. The frame connectors 104 can connectthe bottom shell 106 and rear net 108 to a front portion of the frame102, and the tension members 110 can pull the bottom shell 106 and rearnet 108 toward a back portion of the frame 102. A ball receptacle 112can be placed under the bottom shell and rear net 108, such that theball receptacle 112 can receive and collect balls that enter the sportnet 100.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a frame 102. The frame 102 canbe a support structure for the sport net 100, and can comprise aplurality of frame members 202 such as arms, legs, crossbars, and/orother members. The frame members 202 can comprise metal, wood, plastic,or any other material. By way of non-limiting examples, the framemembers 202 can be metal or PVC tubing.

Some of the frame members 202 can define a ball portal 204 with an opencenter. The ball portal 204 can be elevated by other frame members 202relative to lower portions of the frame 102. By way of a non-limitingexample, FIG. 2 depicts a frame 102 with four frame members 202 defininga rectangular ball portal 204 that is raised relative to the ground.

Other frame members 202 can extend away from the plane of the ballportal 204. By way of a non-limiting example, FIG. 2 depicts anembodiment with frame members 202 extending substantially orthogonallyaway the bottom of legs that support the ball portal 204, such thatthese frame members 202 can at least partially rest on a ground surfaceto keep the plane of the ball portal 204 substantially vertical. In someembodiments the plane of the ball portal 204 can be angled 90 degreesrelative to the frame members 202 extending toward the back of the frame102. In other embodiments the plane of the ball portal 204 can be angledat least partially toward the frame members 202 extending toward theback of the frame 102, such as being angled 3-5 degrees away from a 90degree angle. In still other embodiments the angle between these framemembers 202 can be adjustable. In some embodiments, some frame members202 can be connected with selectively lockable hinges, such that framemembers 202 in the plane of the ball portal 204 can be rotated about thehinges toward and/or away from the frame members 202 extending towardthe back of the frame 102, such that the frame 102 can be foldedtogether for storage and/or transport and unfolded for use. By way of anon-limiting example, a hinged connection can be present in the frame102 behind or proximate to the wheels 208 shown in FIG. 2. Additionally,in some embodiments, the frame 102 of the sport net 100 can bedisassembled into multiple components and the various nets 106 108 114as well as other components can be detached from the sport net 100 forstorage and/or later reassembly.

One or more tension member connectors 206 can be coupled with the framemembers 202 that extend away from the plane of the ball portal 204, asshown in FIG. 2. The tension member connectors 206 can be hooks, loops,or other connectors to which ends of tension members 110 can beconnected, as will be discussed below.

In some embodiments, the frame 102 can comprise one or more wheels 208,such that the sport net 100 can be rolled on the wheels 208 to move thesport net 100 to a desired position. In some embodiments one or moreframe members 202 can be crossbars positioned below and behind the ballportal 204, such that those frame members 202 can support a platformand/or a ball receptacle 112, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In someembodiments the frame 102 can comprise a handle that extends to aposition convenient for a user to grasp the handle in order to pushand/or pull the frame 102.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depicts a front isometric view and a side view of a netassembly 300 comprising the frame connectors 104, the bottom shell 106,the rear net 108, and a collection tube 302. FIG. 3C depicts an explodedview of the net assembly 300. The components of the net assembly 300 canbe coupled with one another using stitching, fusing, or any otherconnection mechanism. By way of a non-limiting example, the frameconnectors 104, bottom shell 106, and rear net 108 can be coupledtogether using nylon thread. The overall net assembly 300 can be securedto the frame 102 with the frame connectors 104 as discussed below.

The frame connectors 104 can be pieces of fabric or other flexiblematerial that can wrap around and be secured to the frame members 202.By way of a non-limiting example, the frame connectors 104 can comprisea heavy duty fabric, such as 600 denier polyester Cordura® fabric. Theframe connectors 104 can be temporarily or permanently secured aroundthe frame members 202 that define the ball portal 204 using hook andloop fasteners, snaps, buttons, stitching, or any other securingmechanism. In some embodiments the frame connectors 104 can be sleevesthat substantially cover an entire frame member 202. In otherembodiments the frame connectors 104 can be straps or loops, such thatmultiple frame connectors 104 can be coupled with each frame member 202that defines the ball portal 204.

The bottom shell 106 can be coupled with the frame connectors 104 thatattach to the lowest frame member 202 that partially defines the ballportal 204, such that the bottom shell 106 extends downward and awayfrom plane of the ball portal 204 from the lowest edge of the ballportal 204. The shape and angle of the bottom shell 106 can form afunnel or slide that directs objects rolling along its surface towardand into a ball collection aperture 304.

The bottom shell 106 can comprise fabric or other material that is sewnto or otherwise coupled with the lowest frame connectors 104. By way ofa non-limiting example, the bottom shell 106 can comprise a heavy dutyfabric, such as 600 denier nylon Cordura® fabric.

FIG. 4A and 4B depict top and side views of an exemplary embodiment ofthe bottom shell 106. In some embodiments, the bottom shell 106 cancomprise four sections: a central trapezoidal section 402, two sidetriangular sections 404, and a back strip 406. The central trapezoidalsection 402 can have a long edge, a short edge that is parallel to thelong edge, and two angled edges. The central trapezoidal section's longedge can be coupled with the one or more frame connectors 104 thatattach to the bottom of the ball portal 204. The two side triangularsections 404 can each extend from, or be coupled with, an angled edge ofthe central trapezoidal section 402. The two side triangular sections404 can also be oriented at an angle relative to the plane of thecentral trapezoidal section 402, such that they slope upward as theyextend away from the central trapezoidal section 402. The back strip 406can connect vertexes of the two side triangular sections 404 that arebeyond the central trapezoidal section's short edge, as shown in FIG.4A. As such, the central trapezoidal section 402, two side triangularsections 404, and back strip 406 can surround and define a square orrectangular ball collection aperture 304. In alternate embodiments thebottom shell 106 can comprise any other number of pieces with othershapes and sizes, and the ball collection aperture 304 can have anyother shape.

The bottom shell 106 can be angled relative to the one or more frameconnectors 104 at the bottom of the ball portal 204, such that the ballcollection aperture 304 is lower than the lowest point of the frame'sball portal 204. By way of a non-limiting example, the embodiment of thebottom shell 106 shown in FIG. 4A-4B can be sloped such that the centraltrapezoidal section 402 extends away from the ball portal 204 at adownward slope, and the angles and orientations of the centraltrapezoidal section 402 and two side triangular sections 404 relative tothe ball portal 204 can form a funnel or slide that directs objectsrolling on their surfaces toward and into the ball collection aperture304. As will be discussed further below, tension members 110 can becoupled with the bottom shell 106 to pull the bottom shell 106 such thatit is oriented to have such a downward slope.

In some embodiments a collection tube 302 can be coupled with the bottomshell 106, such that the collection tube 302 hangs below the ballcollection aperture 304. The collection tube 302 can be coupled with theedges of the ball collection aperture 304, such as with stitching orfusing. In other embodiments the collection tube 302 can be an extensionof one or more components of the bottom shell 106.

The collection tube 302 can have side walls and open ends, such thatobjects can pass through the ball collection aperture 304 into one endof the collection tube 302, through the collection tube 302, and out theother end of the collection tube 302. In some embodiments the collectiontube 302 can comprise the same material as the bottom shell 106, whilein other embodiments the collection tube 302 can comprise a differentmaterial. In some embodiments the collection tube 302 can have across-section shaped like the shape of the ball collection aperture 304.By way of a non-limiting example, the collection tube 302 shown in FIG.3C has a square cross-section. In other embodiments the collection tube302 can be shaped differently than the shape of the ball collectionaperture 304, such as being oval, curved, tapered, or have any othershape. In alternate embodiments the collection tube 302 can be absent.

A ball receptacle 112 can be positioned below the ball collectionaperture 304 and/or the collection tube's open end, such that objectspassing through the ball collection aperture 304 fall into the ballreceptacle 112. The ball receptacle 112 can be a bucket, can, box, orany other receptacle, such as a plastic bucket. In some embodiments, theball receptacle 112 can be placed on and be supported by a platformand/or crossbars on the frame 102, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. In someembodiments, the ball receptacle 112 can be provided with the sport net100, while in other embodiments the ball receptacle 112 can be providedby a user.

The rear net 108 can extend between frame connectors 104 and the back ofthe bottom shell 106, to close off the back of the sport net 100 whileleaving the ball portal 204 open. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and 3A-3B, thetop and sides of the rear net 108 can be coupled with frame connectors104 attached to the frame members 202 along the sides and/or top of theball portal 204, while the bottom edges of the rear net can be coupledwith side and rear peripheral edges of the bottom shell 106.

In some embodiments the rear net 108 can comprise mesh or nettingmaterial defining a plurality of apertures. By way of a non-limitingexample, the rear net 108 can comprise a polyester mesh material withmembers surrounding a series of holes, such as ¼″ square holes. Inalternate embodiments the rear net 108 can comprise a flexible but solidmaterial.

In some embodiments the rear net 108 can comprise multiple segments ofmaterial coupled together. By way of a non-limiting example, the rearnet 108 can comprise a triangular section on either side of a centraltrapezoidal section, with the three sections being coupled together ontheir edges with heavy binding tape and/or nylon thread. In alternateembodiments the rear net 108 can be a single piece of material.

In some embodiments some or all sections of the rear net 108 can havemore material than is needed to linearly span between the frameconnectors 104 and edges of the bottom shell 106, such that the excessmaterial at least partially sags downward and/or inward. By way of anon-limiting example, the side view of FIG. 1C shows a central sectionof the rear net 108 partially sagging toward the center of the sportnet, inward and away from a direct line between the top frame connector104 and the back of the bottom shell 106, while not obstructing objectsrolling on the bottom shell 106 or entering the ball collection aperture304. This excess material can allow the rear net 108 to move and/or flexwhen impacted, such that the rear net 108 can absorb and/or deflectimpact forces. In some embodiments the central section of the rear net108 can be provided with more excess material than the side sections.

The tension members 110 can be coupled between tension member connectors206 on the frame 102 and positions proximate to the rear edges of thebottom shell 106 and/or rear net 108. In some embodiments the tensionmembers 110 can be elastic or inelastic straps, cords, strings, ropes,or other elongated members. By way of a non-limiting example, thetension members 110 can be straps stitched into the seam between theback edges of the rear net 108 and the back edges of the bottom shell106, and the straps can have grommets that can be hooked onto thetension member connectors 206 on the frame 102.

The tension members 110 can be configured to pull the bottom shell 106and/or rear net 108 away from the ball portal 204, such that the bottomshell 106 is oriented with a downward slope as it extends away from theball portal 204 and toward the ball collection aperture 304. FIG. 5depicts a non-limiting example of measurements and angles of oneembodiment of the net assembly 300 in a state in which it is beingpulled by tension members 110 such that the bottom shell 106 has adownward slope, however other embodiments can have different angles andmeasurements, and/or the angles can be changed by adjusting the tensionmembers 110 as will be discussed below. FIG. 6 depicts a side view ofanother non-limiting example of an embodiment in which the bottom shell106 has a slope such that it extends 30 inches horizontally and 8 inchesvertically from front to back.

In some embodiments, the tension on the tension members 110 can beadjustable, such that the amount of force pulling the back of the netassembly 300 away from the ball portal 204 can be varied to make the netassembly 300 more or less elastic or slack. By way of a non-limitingexample, the tension members 110 can be adjusted to pull on the back ofthe net assembly 300 with 0, 5, or 10 pounds of tension. In otherembodiments the tension members 110 can be anchored to different tensionmember connectors 206 positioned at different locations on the frame 102to adjust the amount of pull on the back of the net assembly 300. Insome embodiments one or more tension members 110 can be combined toreach a desired tension.

FIG. 7 depicts a non-limiting example of one embodiment of an adjustabletension member 110. The tension member 110 can comprise an elongatedmember 702 coupled one on end with a cord 704 and on the other end witha frame connector 706. The elongated member 702 can be coupled with orpass through a net connector 708 at an interior point on the elongatedmember, such that the elongated member 702 can be folded back on itselfat the net connector, as shown in FIG. 7. The elongated member 702 canbe a strap of flexible material, such as nylon or other fabric. The cord704 can be a stretchable and/or elastic cord, such as a bungee cord.

A plurality of attachment members 710 can be coupled with the elongatedmember 702 at different positions along its length, and the cord 704 canterminate with a cord connector 712 configured to attach to the type ofattachment members 710 present on the elongated member 702. Theattachment members 710 and/or cord connector 712 can be D-rings,O-rings, triangle rings, hooks, loops, snaps, latches, buckles, clips,or any other attachment mechanism. By way of a non-limiting example, theattachment members 710 can be D-rings attached to straps extending fromthe elongated member 702, and the cord connector 712 can be a hookconfigured to selectively latch onto any of the D-rings.

The frame connector 706 and net connector 708 can similarly each beD-rings, O-rings, triangle rings, hooks, loops, snaps, latches, buckles,clips, or any other attachment mechanism, such that they can beselectively attached to a tension member connector 206 on the frame 102or the back of the net assembly 300. In alternate embodiments the frameconnector 706 and net connector 708 can be switched with one another,such that the tension member 110 attaches between the net assembly 300and a tension member connector 206 in a reversed orientation.

In use, a user can choose which attachment member 710 to connect thecord connector 712 to, in order to adjust the tension on the back of thenet assembly 300. In some embodiments, the attachment members 710 can bespaced such that connecting the cord connector 712 to the attachmentmember 710 closest to the net connector 708 exerts little to no tensionon the back of the net assembly 300, while connecting to each attachmentmember 710 farther down the elongated member 702 exerts progressivelymore tension on the net assembly 300. By way of a non-limitingembodiment, some embodiments can have the attachment members 710 spacedfour inches apart, and connecting the cord connector 712 to each one canprovide approximately 2.5 pounds of tension more than the previousattachment member 710.

In alternate embodiments, the tension members 110 can be straps with anadjustable length, such that their length can be adjusted to increase ordecrease the tension on the net assembly 300. By way of a non-limitingexample, the tension members 110 can be straps with strap adjusters thatcan be used to increase or decrease the length of the tension members110. By way of another non-limiting example, the tension members 110 canbe a belt with a buckle that can connect to one of a plurality of presetpositions on the belt to change its length.

The tension members 110 can allow users to adjust the net assembly tohave more or less give when absorbing impact forces or deflectingobjects. By way of a non-limiting example, the tension members 110 canbe adjusted to pull on the net assembly 300 and give it its shape, butto not pull strongly enough that the rear net 108 is tensioned so thatobjects hitting it are deflected back out of the sport net 100. A usercan adjust the tension provided by the tension members 110 asappropriate for the sport being practiced, as balls in some sports movefaster than others and thus a different level of elasticity and impactabsorption can be desired from the net. By configuring the tensionmembers 110 to pull the back of the net assembly 300 farther away fromthe ball portal 204, the net assembly 300 can become relatively morerigid and have less give when impacted by an object, whereas byconfiguring the tension members 110 to pull the back of the net assembly300 less distance away from the ball portal 204, the net assembly 300can become less rigid and have more give when impacted by an object.

By way of a non-limiting example of how adjustment of the tensionmembers 110 can change the force of the pull on the net assembly 300and/or can stretch or flex portions of the sport net 100 into differentshapes and orientations, FIG. 8A depicts angles that were experimentallymeasured on an embodiment of the sport net 100 when various levels oftension were applied to the back of the net assembly 300 by the tensionmembers 110. FIG. 8B depicts the results of those measurements atvarying levels of tension, with “z” indicating the length of the netassembly 300 from front to back along a horizontal axis. As can be seen,experiments show that the seams of the net assembly 300 are pulledharder when the tension provided by the tension members 110 increases,and the expansion of the net assembly 300 can be given as a coefficientof those changes. Additionally, as the tension increases, in someembodiments the substantially vertical portions of the frame 102 can bepulled partially backward toward substantially horizontal portions ofthe frame, such as by 2-3 degrees. FIG. 8B also lists measurements ofthe rear net's droop away from a straight line at various points on therear net 108 away from the top frame member 202 at varying levels oftension.

In some embodiments, the slope of the bottom shell 106 can be determinedby a formula depending on the tension applied by the tension members110. By way of a non-limiting example, in some embodiments the slope ofthe center front of the bottom shell 106 (on a standard x, y, zcoordinate system) can be calculated with a formula derived from themeasurements of FIG. 8B: y=f(x,z,t)=−8*z/(28.5+t/20), where t is theamount of tension in pounds provided by the tension members 110.

Similarly, in some embodiments the shape of the rear net 108 can bedetermined by a formula. By way of a non-limiting example, in someembodiments the shape of the rear net 108 can be calculated with aformula derived from experimental measurements obtained by hanging therear net 108 on a frame and pulling it into a parabolic shape, as shownin FIG. 9. These measurements were taken at varying amounts of tensionover the surface of the rear net 108 by measuring displacement from thedistance between upper rear seams joining the central section and sidetriangular sections of the rear net 108, and scaling the curvature ofthe pattern's sides to fit the length of the seams, pleating material atthe bottom when forming the seams. A formula derived from thesemeasurements by normalizing the hanging rear net 108 over the frame,scaling by a second degree curve using a polynomial lease-squaresmethod, and adjusting for the tension t, in pounds, was calculated asy=f(x,z,t)=t*|f(z)|*f(x)=(108/(t+100))*(1−x̂2/849)*(0.05+0.462*z−0.007*ẑ2).

In use, a user can throw or hit objects toward the sport net 100. By wayof a non-limiting example, users can throw or hit sports balls towardthe sport net 100, such as baseballs, softballs, tennis balls, wiffleballs, golf balls, or any other type of ball. If the object passesthrough the ball portal 204, it can hit the back of the rear net 108.The rear net 108 can flex to absorb the force of the object's impact,and/or can deflect the object's path toward the bottom shell 106. Theobject can roll down the bottom shell's sloped shape toward and into theball collection aperture 304, after which it can fall into a ballreceptacle positioned below the ball collection aperture 304. The objectcan pass through the collection tube 302, and into. As such, a user canthrow or hit multiple objects into the sport net 100, and they can allbe directed by the net assembly 300 through the ball collection aperture304 into the ball receptacle 112, where they can be collected forconvenient reuse or storage.

In some embodiments, an auxiliary net 114 can be coupled with the frame102 around the ball portal 204, in order to catch objects that do notpass into the ball portal 204. By way of a non-limiting example, FIGS.1A-1C depict an auxiliary net 114 mounted on the frame 102 below thebottom of the ball portal 204, such that objects hit or thrown too lowto enter the net assembly 300 through the ball portal 204 can be caughtby the auxiliary net 114.

FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of a sport net, FIG. 11 depictsa rear view of the sport net depicted in FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 depicts anelevation view of the sport net depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11. In theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 10-12, a sport net 100 can comprise a frame102, frame connectors 104, a bottom shell 106, a rear net 108, and aplurality of tension members 110. The frame connectors 104 can connectthe bottom shell 106 and rear net 108 to a front portion of the frame102, and the tension members 110 can pull the bottom shell 106 and rearnet 108 toward a back portion of the frame 102. A ball receptacle 112can be placed under the bottom shell and rear net 108, such that theball receptacle 112 can receive and collect balls that enter the sportnet 100. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10-12, the sport net 100can further comprise one or more diagonal braces 1002 that canselectively couple with the front portion of the frame 102 and the backportion of the frame 102. The one or more diagonal braces 1002 can beconfigured to allow the front and back portions of the frame 102 to beselectively transitioned between a folded or closed position wherein thefront and back portions of the frame 102 are substantially parallel andan open position wherein the front and back portions of the frame 102are substantially perpendicular via a pivot connection 1010.Additionally, in some embodiments, the back portion of the frame 102 cancomprise a cross-bar 1004 connecting the legs of the back portion of theframe 102.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10-12, one or more of the corners1006 of the frame 102 can have rounded corners. Additionally, in someembodiments, the device can comprise a plurality of handles 1008 coupledwith the cross-bar 1004. Moreover, in some embodiments, one more netcomponents can be constructed in a unitary fashion and/or fixedlyconnected.

As depicted in FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the sport net 100 cancomprise wheels 1202 to facilitate transportation of the sport net 100.In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12, the wheels 1202 can be coupledwith the frame 102 such that the wheels 1202 are elevated out of theplane of the base portion of the frame 102 at a slight angle 1204 suchthat when the base portion of the frame 102 is in contact with asurface, the wheels 1202 will be slightly elevated from the surface withwhich the base portion of the frame 102 is in contact with.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the diagonal brace 1002 can beselectively coupled with the base portion of the frame 102 via afastener 1206. In some embodiments, the fastener 1206 can be a nut-typefastener. However, in alternate embodiments the fastener 1206 can be anyknown, convenient and/or desired selective and/or fixed-type fasteningmechanism or device.

FIGS. 13A and 13B depict the net components of the sport net depicted inFIGS. 10-12. As depicted, the rear net 108 includes a catenary-type sagsuch based on the formulae and data described herein such that when amoving ball comes in contact with the rear net 108, the rear net willdissipate the associated kinetic energy and the other portions of thenetting will direct the ball into the ball receptacle 112. In someembodiments the auxiliary net 114 can be similarly configured todissipate kinetic energy and contain a errant ball within the auxiliarynet 114.

FIGS. 14A and 14B depict an exploded view of the net components of thesport net depicted in FIGS. 10-13B. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS.14A and 14B, the nets can comprise a rear portion 1402, two side nets1404 and 1406, a base shell 106 (alternately a base net) and a funnelportion 1408. In some embodiments all or some net components/portions1402 1404 1406 1408 106 can be unitary construction. However, inalternate embodiments, only some net components/portions 1402 1404 14061408 106 can be unitary construction and one or more other netcomponents 1402 1404 1406 1408 106 can be separate/individual netcomponents 1402 1404 1406 1408 106.

FIG. 15 depicts the parabolic profile of the rear net of the sport netdepicted in FIGS. 10-14B. In some embodiments the shape of the rear net108 can be determined by a formula. By way of a non-limiting example, insome embodiments the shape of the rear net 108 can be calculated with aformula derived from experimental measurements obtained by hanging therear net 108 on a frame and pulling it into a parabolic shape, as shownin FIG. 15. These measurements were taken at varying amounts of tensionover the surface of the rear net 108 by measuring displacement from thedistance between upper rear seams joining the central section and sidetriangular sections of the rear net 108, and scaling the curvature ofthe pattern's sides to fit the length of the seams, pleating material atthe bottom when forming the seams. A formula derived from thesemeasurements by normalizing the hanging rear net 108 over the frame,scaling by a second degree curve using a polynomial lease-squaresmethod, and adjusting for the tension t, in pounds, was calculated asy=f(x,z,t)=t*|f(z)|*f(x)=(108/(t+100))*(1−x̂2/849)*(0.05+0.462*z−0.007*ẑ2).

FIG. 16 depicts an side view of the sport net depicted in FIGS. 10-15.In some embodiments the shape of the side and base nets 1404 1406 1408can be determined sag of the net under its own weight which can bedependent upon the tension on the tensioning members 110. By way of anon-limiting example, in some embodiments the shape of the side and basenets 1404 1406 1408 can be calculated with a formula derived fromexperimental measurements obtained by hanging the side and rear nets1404 1406 1408 or in the case of a unitary net, hanging the net 108 on aframe and pulling it into shape, as shown in FIG. 16.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed isintended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sport net, comprising: a frame defining anupper edge, a lower edge, and two side edges of a ball portal, said ballportal being raised relative to lower sections of said frame; a bottomshell coupled with the lower edge of said ball portal, said bottom shelldefining a ball collection aperture; a rear net coupled with the upperedge, the two side edges of said ball portal, and peripheral edges ofsaid bottom shell; and a plurality of tension members configured to pullsaid bottom shell and said rear net away from said ball portal, suchthat said plurality of tension members give said bottom shell a downwardslope as it extends away from the lower edge of said ball portal,wherein said ball collection aperture is positioned in said bottom shellat the lowest point on said downward slope, such that objects rolling onsaid bottom shell roll via gravity toward and into said ball collectionaperture.